Vettel and Stroll question the FIA's decisions regarding the launch of a new car

Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll have taken advantage of the new car's launch to criticize the entity that drives Formula 1. Photo: Joe Portlock/Getty Images — Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll have taken advantage of the new car’s launch to criticize the entity that drives Formula 1. Photo: Joe Portlock/Getty Images

It looks like the 2021 F1 season will take a long time to be forgotten. This time around, Aston Martin drivers participated in an online launch event for the team’s new car, Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll.

Stroll was more emphatic, as he was one of the pilots affected by the decision of the class’s race director, Michael Massey. The fact that the last race of the championship resumed last year without all the drivers ignoring their laps in relation to the Canadian leader sparked outrage.

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“My opinion is that it’s ridiculous that we didn’t restart the right way. You can’t change the rules at the end of the race and say only half cars can overtake. Unfortunately, I was in the group of cars that couldn’t overtake, with new soft tires and a chance to try to overtake or do something. It hasn’t been done before and it’s important that the rules are consistent I understand it’s great that there are disagreements and everyone wants to see the last lap of the race with the two drivers vying for the championship side by side, but you can’t invent the straits at the end of the race “Rules are rules,” he said.

The FIA is still analyzing the issue. A major motorsport class committee meeting is scheduled for next week and one of the positions already identified is the reconfiguration of race director jobs.

Vettel, president of the Drivers’ Union, preferred to highlight the challenges the race director faces. “It’s not easy to be where he is, but I think he’s done a great job. He’s always been very focused and determined to do a good job. I don’t know what his future will be, but I hope he continues because he has done a good job.” Class champion four times.

But for those who think the German was not critical, Vettel was surprised by the decision to modify the drivers’ ceremonies before the start, with many of them, including the German, kneeling to protest against racism.

“I hope we find a way to come together and find a moment where we can express ourselves on the topics that matter to us. Maybe not all pilots care. But I think some really do. And it would be great to meet. But maybe things are getting a little bit stronger and very individual for the business side.”